Dauber



April 1963 G. SCHWARTZMAN 3,084,375

DAUBER Filed Dec. 1, 1959 INVENTOR. fails-er Ja /141221414 United States Patent 3,084,375 DAUBER Gilbert Schwartzman, Scarsdale, N.Y., assignor to Glidomatic Corporation, Yonkers, N.Y. Filed Dec. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 856,424 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-566) This invention relates to a dauber for use in applying cosmetics or medications on the person of the user or for applying oil, lubricants, polishes or the like on any suitable surface.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of means for facilitating the application of cosmetics, medications and the like on the skin of the user.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of valve means which are automatically actuated and are adapted to control the flow of fluid from the dauber so that the harder the dauber is pressed against the surface being treated, the more fluid is permitted to flow through the valve utilized.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a dauber employing a novel valve structure including a valve member formed of relatively soft neoprene that is continuously urged against the valve seat of polyethylene by means of a helical conical coil spring, which coil spring is seated in a retaining ring adapted to be fitted in the neck of the container of the fluid.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of means aifording protection for the surface of the body of the user applying the dauber by providing a relatively soft and large area contact for the dauber, which contact is in the form of a foam rubber cover engageable with the relatively large top surface of the valve member for actuating the valve structure.

In the past, daubers have been produced which are provided with applicator ends serving to actuate mechanical valves. However, because the valve members had a surface area which was very small, relatively hard pressing would cause severe discomfort to the user.

Thus, it is another object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior art daubers while providing better control for flow of the liquid to be applied.

Still further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a dauber which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use, capable of metering fluid of various viscosities in an effective manner, and which is attractive in appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this dauber, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial prospective view of the dauber comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded sectional detail view illustrating the various components of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail view illustrating the invention in operation; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of 44 of FIG. 3.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the dauber comprising the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral and includes a container 12 in which a retaining ring 14 is positioned. The retaining ring is designed to 3,084,375 Patented Apr. 9, 1953 fit in the neck of the container 12 and includes a flange 16 provided with a lip 18 for retaining a foam rubber disk 20 in position between the lip 18 and a rib 22 of circular configuration.

The foam rubber 20 is in the form .of a disk which is normally spaced from the disk shaped upper edge of the valve member 24, but which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the valve member 24 when the dauber is in use as is shown in FIG. 3. The foam rubber 20 is preferably covered with a thin sheet of fabric which is of a porous nature.

The retaining ring 14 is also provided with a web which has an arcuate opening 28 therein, which is tapered and which is of at least one half the diameter of the web. Cooperating with the arcuate tapered opening 28 which serves as a valve seat is the surface of the hemispherical head portion 30 of the valve member. The valve member 24 includes the spring 38 having its upper end 48 formed in tight coils. The valve member has its upper end 40 during its manufacture dipped into liquid latex at least part of the way, withdrawn and allowed to harden forming the hemispherical head portion 30.

The retaining ring 14 is molded of polyethylene or like mate-rial which is relatively hard, while the valve member 24 is molded of latex. Thus, the hemispherical head portion 38 cooperates with the arcuate tapered opening 28 to form a very tight closure, since the relatively soft latex will not only conform to the contours of the opening 28, but will make a very special tight seal of unexpected efficiency when used in conjunction with the helical conical coil spring 38.

The retaining ring 14 has its innermost end swaged as at 42 for retaining the coil spring in a continuously stressed condition so that the valve member is continuously urged into a closed position.

In operation, when the foam rubber cover 20, which is normally spaced from the valve member 24, is depressed into engagement with the valve member, it will cause the valve member to be pushed inward, thus opening the valve, to a greater degree dependent upon how far the valve member is depressed.

Thus, the rate of fluid flow is controlled by the manner of application of the dauber to the surface to be treated. Because the opening 28 is of at least one half the diameter of the web, two highly advantageous results are achieved. First, fluid flows out of the opening in equal amounts in all directions at a distance halfway between the center of the cover and its effective applying surface. This causes a better distribution of the fluid. Further, because of the extent of the hemispherical surf-ace of the valve member, there is no pointed or sharp surface against which the cover is pressed which would be very uncomfortable to the user and could cause rapid deterioration of the cover.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

A dauber comprising a fluid container having a neck terminating in an open end, a retainer ring of polyethylene having a projecting portion of reduced cross sectional dimensions fitted in said neck, said projecting portion having a swaged end, a porous resilient cover secured to said ring outwardly of said container, said ring having an arcuate tapered circular opening therein forming a valve seat, a valve member in said projecting portion having one end engaging the swaged end of said projecting portion, said valve member being movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said opening from said container to said cover, said cover being normally spaced from said valve member and being depressible into engagement with said valve member to move said valve member to an open position, said valve member comprising a helical conical spring of metal having a hemispherical head of latex coating thereon with said spring being embedded in said head, said head being engageable with said valve seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED, STATES PATENTS Smith Sept. 2, 1913 Casaclang Sept. 14, 1926 Beeg July 16, 1935 Le Moine et al May 18, 1937 Fisher Aug. 6, 1940 Beeh Aug. 12, 1941 Hunter et al. Oct. 20, 1942 Petion Feb. 27, 1951 Lurz- Nov. 13, 1951 

